Oil-burner



1. w. COWVELL.

OIL BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.28, 1919.

1,377,669. I latanwl May 10, 1921.

3 $HEETSSHEET l- J. W. COWELL.

01L BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. m9.

1,37 7,669. Patented May 10, 1921.

3 $HEETSSHEET 3.

NITED STATES JOHN W. CO'WELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OIL-BURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed October 28, 1919. Serial No. 333,872.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN WV. CowELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oil-Burners, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a art of this specification.

y invention has for its object to produce a burner for liquid fuel in which the liquid will be effectively vaporized and effectively mixed with air so as to secure practically perfect combustion; in which the size of the flame may be regulated without affecting the efiiciency; and which shall be provided with a pilot light supplied with fuel from the main source so that the burner will automatically light upon the proper manipulation of the main controlling device.

A further object of the present invention. is to provide an automatic safety device which, in case the burner should happen to become flooded, will cause the fuel to be shut off.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advan tages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a burner arranged in accordance with my invention, parts being broken away in order more clearly to show underlying parts;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the burner, the safety device being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a view of the burner partly 1n side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the flow-regulating mechanism; I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fragment of one of the grids forming the combustion chamber; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section on an enlarged scale through one of the fuel troughs with the wick and vaporizing element associated therewith.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a flat horizontal base or plate, supported on suitable legs, 2. The plate is provided with a plurality of deep depending ribs; there being, in the arrangement shown, three longitudinal ribs, 3, and transverse ribs, 4. Each rib is hollowed out in the upper face so as to provide a comparatively deep trough or groove, 5, and running through each rib, lengthwise thereof and at some distance below the groove, is a fuel passage, 6, connected at intervals with the corresponding groove by means of small ports or passages, 7 In each groove there is arranged on edge a thin fiat wick, 8, preferably made of an asbestos core held in a perforated U-shaped sheet metal sheath, 9, overlying the upper edge and extending down the sides. A coiled wire. 10, is threaded through each wick, as shown, so that a portion thereof extends down into the groove and the remainder projects above the top of the latter. Air holes ortwyers, 11, extend diagonally through the member 1 on each side of each of the ribs along the base of the latter so as to terminate at their inner ends in the vicinity of the top of the corresponding groove. The longitudinal fuel conduits, 6, are connected with the transverse conduits. Fuel is delivered from the under side of the burner at the intersection of the central transverse and longitudinal ribs and conduits therein; there being at this point a fitting, 12, to which a flexible supply pipe, 13, leads. A small pencil-shaped wick, 14, extends upwardly from within the fitting 12 to a point in the vicinity of the plane of the upper edges of the wicks 8; the wick, 14:, being for the purpose of maintaining a pilot light as will herein- 1 after be explained.

Above the plate 1 is constructed a combustion chamber made up of a plurality ofcompartments communicating with each other and with the outside atmosphere at a large number of points. This combustion chamber is preferably made up of a series of flat grids, l5, laid one upon the other, the lowermost element resting upon the plate 1. The stack of grids is clamped together and to the plate 1 by means of a cover plate, 16; bolts, 17, passing down through the cover plate and through the plate 1. The grids are so formed that they produce above each trough-like groove a chimney, 18. Each of the grids is provided with numerous small grooves, 19, cut across one or both faces of the same so as to permit air to enter each of the chimneys from all sides and at a great many points and place the chimneys in communication with each other through the compartments, 20 of the combustion chamber lying intermediate between the chimneys. The stack of grids is inclosed at the sides and at the ends in a hood or apron, 21, extending downwardly from the cover plate and spaced apart from the sides of the stack. Air may thus rise in the space within the hood around the stack and enter the combustion chamber at all elevations.

The fuel is supplied from a reservoir, 22, through a flexible pipe, 23, into the top of a float chamber, 24, shown in detail in Fig. 5. The pipe 13, which leads to the burner, is connected to the bottom of the float chamber. The discharge end of the pipe 23 is controlled by a needle valve, 26, provided with a longitudinal slot, 27, through which passes a stationary pin, 28; the pin and slot permitting the valve to rise and fall but preventing it from turning, and therefore making it possible to secure a tight fit of the valve in a definite angular position and then prevent the valve from turning out of that position. The valve rests I on a swinging lever, 29, referably resilient;

and one end of the float, 30.

The liquid in the float chamber and the liquid in the burner or the connections leading to the burner from the float chamber will always be at the same level. Furthermore, when the liquid in the float chamber reaches a predetermined level therein, the valve, 26, will be closed. Therefore, by raising or lowering the float chamber as a whole the liquid level in the burner and connections will be correspondingly raised or lowered. In the arrangement shown, the float chamber has an upwardly-projecting bracket, 31, provided with a vertical rack,

ever rests upon a 32. A pinion, 33, fixed to a shaft, 34, mounted in suitable stationary bearings, meshes with the rack. The shaft, 34, is provided with a handle, 35, by means of which it may be actuated. It will be seen that by turning the handle the float chamber may be raised or lowered as desired. The float chamber 1s provided w1th one or more laterally-projecting cars, 37, through which vertically-adjustably headed posts or screws, 38, pass loosely. In the arrangement shown, the members 38 are screws screw threaded into the extreme end of or an extension of the plate 1. The parts are so proportioned that when the float chamber is lowered as far as it will go the liquid level in the burner will be below the wick-containing grooves. Therefore at this time the only wick that will be immersed in liquid fuel is the pilot wick, 14, and therefore the pilot light will remain burning after the main burner has been turned off through the lowering of the liquid level below the main wicks when the float chamber is lowered. The adjustable posts, 38, are so adjusted that the float chamber cannot be raised high enough to cause the fuel to overflow from the wick-containing grooves, or they may be adjusted so as to limit the lift of the float chamber to a level which will give a predetermined character of flame.

In case the controlling valve 26 should happen to fail-it might be that the burner would be flooded. To prevent this I have provided a safety device which will shut off the supply of fuel whenever the float chamber becomes filled to a predetermined abnormal level. To this end I have placed in the pipe 23, a valve, 40, having an actuating handle or bar, 41, on one end of which is a counterweight, 42, and on the other end of which is hung a receptacle, 43. lVhen the receptacle is empty the counterweight is able to hold the valve 40 open. A pipe, 44, leads from the predetermined danger level in the float chamber into the top of the member 43. The pipe 44 may either be a flexible pipe or it may be a rigid pipe having a vertical leg, 45, extending loosely downwardly into a sleeve, 46, in the top of the receptacle, 43, so as to permit the float chamber to be raised and lowered for starting and stopping the burner and adjusting the flame without affecting the member 43. In case the liquid in the float chamber rises to the danger level, liquid begins to flow through the pipe 44 into the receptacle, 43, and, as soon as sufficient liquid is collected therein, the receptacle descends from the full line position in Fig. 2 to the dotted line position and closes the valve 40.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a burner of few, simple, strong parts, so that the burner cannot easily get out of order. The fuel is supplied evenly along a line equal to the combined lengths of all of the wick-containing grooves. The spiral wires have their upper portions lying in the flame and their lower portions immersed in the fuel when the burner is turned on, so that heat is rapidly conducted by the wires and delivered to t e liquid fuel with the result that vapor is rapidly and efiiciently gene at l erated As the vapor is generated it startsp v into the combustion chamber and very outset-with air drawn n through the presenceof-hotgridswhich/prevent the cool-' to rise through the chimneys, mixing at the air ports-or twyers, 11', and afterward encountering 'myr ads of tiny streams of a r flowing laterally through the interstices 1n the stack'of grids, Consequently there is no point in the lar e combustion chamber at which unconsume gases or vapors can fail to-receive'. an adequate supply of air to in.

sure combustion. Consequently almost per.- fectcombustion is obtalned vwithout the Furthermore, the

. i'n'g'of the minute particles which, upon coming in contact with cool surfaces become the controlling handle for the float-chamber, the burner. may be turned on and off and the I 30.

' soot; By making the grids in the form of 120 w sages, a vsolid structure is obtained which will'not warp or become distorted under the flat plates lightlygr'ooved to form air pasaction offheat and thus reduce thee'ificiency resulting from an accurateorigi'nal proportioning of the parts-of the combustion chamher and air channels.

Itwill'also be seen that by simply turning flame be raised and lowered; the pilot light remainingburning when the mam burner 1s turned-off and thus not only providinga light for the main burner when the latter is again turned: on, but keeping the walls of the compartments of the combust1on1chamher more or less warm so that the-burnerneed not be started in a coldconditionafter it has once been lighted; thus "avoiding an initial discharge of smoke orvsoot deposit either or both of which might result and continue burner;

Y It will of order at the same time; this, being a contingency which is not very aptto take place.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred the trough.v

for a-short time in starting a cold} furthermore be seen that there is no danger of accidental flooding of the burner unless both the float-controlled valve.

andthe main shut-oif valve happen to be out wick and having parts extending above the latter and'otherparts extending down into 3, An element for an oil'burner compris ed through the same in the vicinity of a long edge so that the axis of the coil lies said edge.

4. In combination, a liquidafuel burner havinga fueltrough, a main wick inzsaid fuel-receiving ing along flat. wick and a wire spiral threadtrough, a supply conduit opening into' thebottom of the trough, a pilot wick arranged in the vicinity of the main wick andextending downward into said, conduit, a source of'liquid supply connected to saidconduit, and controlling means ada ted. to maintain a liquid level at times su ciently high in the trough to wet the main wick and'a-t other times low enough to lie below the main wick and above the lowerend' of the pilot wick;

5, Incombmatmn, a, liquid fuelburner,

a source of fuel supply, a constant level device for'c'ontrolling the flow of fuel from said source to the burner; a shut-off valve' between said source and said burner, and'ad ditiona'l means controlled by fuel j rising above a predetermined level for closingsaid shut-oifvalve,

, 6. Aburner'comprising a single plate having intersecting longitudinal and transverse fuel troughs" in its upper surface and a 'se,- ries of interconnected fuel conduits ,or passages formed in the plate below the troughs,

each trough being connected with the underlying. conduit 'b'ymeans of a plurality of small-openings distributed throughout the length of the trough, and a supply pipe connected; to 'said conduits.

7 A burner comprising. a single plate having intersecting longitudinal and transverse fuel troughs in its upper surface and a series of interconnected fuel conduits or passa es formed in the plate below the troug s, each trough being connected with I the underlyingconduit by means of aplurality of small openings distributed throughout the length of the trough, and a supply pipe connected to said conduits at about the middle of the burner.

. 8. A; burner comprising a single plate having intersectinglongitudinal and transverse fuel troughs in its upper surface and a series of interconnected fuel conduits-or passages formed in the plate below the,

troughs, each trough being connected with the underlying conduit by means of a plura-litylof-small openings distributed throughout the length of the trough, and a supply pipe connected to said conduits, said plate having air openings or twyers extending upwardly therethrough on opposite sides of each trough and arranged at an angle to the vertical so as to cause the incoming air to flow across the tops of the troughs.

9. A burner comprising a single plate having intersecting longitudinal and transverse fuel troughs in its upper surface and a series of interconnected fuel conduits or passa es formed in the plate below the troug s, each trough being connected with the underlying conduit by means of a plurality of small openings distributed throughout the length of the trough, and a supply pipe connected to said conduits at about the middle of the burner, said plate having air openings or twyers extending upwardly therethrough on opposite sides of each 20 trough and arranged at an angle to the vertical so as to cause the incoming air to flow across the tops of the trou hs.

In testimony whereof, sign this specification.

JOHN W. COWELL. 

